Gov. John Hickenlooper's back-and-forth positions this month on a bill to limit rounds in gun magazines caused House Democrats last week to do a double-take.

House Bill 1224 had already passed the Democratic-controlled House over the angry protests of Republicans, who questioned how the state's pro-business governor would sign legislation after a gun magazine manufacturer threatened to leave Colorado. And the Democratic-led Senate was set to hear the bills in committee this week at the same time Senate Democrats would roll out their own bill to hold firearms makers and sellers liable for gun violence.

So it was surprising to Democrats last week when the Democratic governor, in an interview with Colorado Public Radio, said he hadn't taken a stance on House Bill 1224. Hickenlooper didn't clarify the confusion on Sunday, when he appeared on CBS's Face the Nation and did not outline his stance on magazine limits despite a question touching on the topic.

"We haven't taken a specific position on that bill yet," Hickenlooper told CPR last week. "It's a tough issue: I mean, how many lives do you save, and how real is the inconvenience to people who want to have a larger capacity magazine and feel it's essential for defending their house?"

Advertisement

The comments appeared to be in direct conflict with ones made the week before, when the governor told a roundtable of Capitol reporters that he was supportive of a magazine limit but that the specific number of rounds might still need to be negotiated.

House Speaker Mark Ferrandino said he spoke with Hickenlooper and asked directly if he would support the 15-round limit on magazines.

"He reconfirmed to me that he was supportive of the bill at 15 (rounds)," Ferrandino, D-Denver, said.

Hickenlooper's spokesman, Eric Brown, said on Monday that this was the governor's position.

"The governor told the speaker he'd sign what was passed by the House. He does what he says," Brown said. "We will continue to work with lawmakers and others as the proposed legislation now goes through the Senate."

That Ferrandino sought the reassurance from Hickenlooper shows how the governor's public statements at times have caused confusion.

Even the governor has noticed his own vacillation.

"I from time to time have said contradictory things on it (the gun magazine limit)," Hickenlooper said at one point in the CPR interview.

Ferrandino said it's partly Hickenlooper's style.

"The governor is someone who is constantly thinking and constantly speaking out loud about things," Ferrandino said, "and so we've learned to make sure that anything we hear in the press, we go back and confirm to know where he is.

"It's definitely caused some flare-ups with the caucus at times, but he's always been very open and honest with members, and I think that really alleviates any of the concerns members have."

Senate President John Morse, D-Colorado Springs, said he's also been reassured by the governor that he will support the magazine limit. Morse on Tuesday is holding a press conference to release details of a bill he is introducing this week that would allow people to sue gun manufacturers, sellers and owners for the damage inflicted by semi-automatic rifles.

Morse has acknowledged such a law would likely conflict with federal law that bans such lawsuits, and even a few Democrats have greeted the idea skeptically. The governor has not taken a position on the proposal. Nor have a number of Democratic legislators.

MacIntyre feels Colorado is capable of making run at bowl gameCU BUFFS FALL CAMPWhen: 29 practices beginning Wednesday morning 8:30-11 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday practices are open to the media and public next week. Full Story

It didn't take long for Denver music observers to notice Plume Varia. Husband and wife Shon and Cherie Cobbs formed the band only two years ago, but after about a year they started finding themselves on best-of lists and playing the scene's top venues. Full Story